Window-shutter-closing device.



G. W. LANCASTER.

WINDOW SHUTTER CLOSING DEVICE.

APPLICATION rum) MAE.17,1913.

1,081,842, Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

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G. W. LANCASTER.

WINDOW SHUTTER CLOSING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.I7,1913.

1,081,842. Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

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Bnncntor wihwssgs w. 64 wmgw (Iltorucgs COLUMBIA mdmoammn 50., WASHINGTON. n c,

G. W. LANCASTER.

WINDOW SHUTTER CLOSING nnvwn.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.17,1913.

1,081,842 Patented Dec. 16,1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W/[ZJ 45% 2/ F 6 4! L- q lhm UNITED ETATES PATENT UFFICE.

GEORGE W. LANCASTER, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO UNIVERSAL SCREEN & BLIND COMPANY, INCORPORATED, A CHARTERED COMPANY.

WINDOW-SHUTTER-CLOSING DEVICE.

i ,oeieae.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 16,1913.

Application filed March 17, 1913. Serial No. 755,000.

To (6 whom it may concern:

ie it known that I, Gnonon \V. LANOAS'IFER, citizen of the United States, residing at ilticlnnond. in the county oi? Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful :lmproven'ients in \Vindow-Shutter-Closing Devices; and I do hereby declare the tollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of window shutting and opening devices wherein the sluttters a r i actuated from within the house without opening the windows, and an object of the invention is to provide such a shutter actuating device which shall be simple and strong, and particularly free from cogs, gears, or other devices which are likely to become disarranged easily.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide improved means for actuating the shutter opening and closing mechanism, said means being neat and susceptible of use as a means for supporting adjustable shades.

A still "further object of the invention is to provide shutter actuating means and a device tor unlocking the shutter, that part of the locking device which is within reach being inclosed within the shutter opening means.

it still further object of the invention is to provide an improved base upon which the shutter actuating means is supported, this support being provided with automatic means for locking the shutter when the same has reached one of its extreme positions.

A still :turther object of the invention is to provide improved means operatable from within the house for opening and closing the slats of a shutter.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved means -tor opening the shutter when the shutte actuating means is moved, said improved means comprising a rigid member and a member slidably mounted upon the rigid member and operatively connected to the shutter actuating device.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises certain novel oonstructions, combinations, and arrangei'nents of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, where two embodiments of the invention are as shown, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts: Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a window having the shutter actuating mechanism applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one end of the shutter showing the rigid actuating means secured thereto. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the window actuating mechanism shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a perspective view of the window frame having applied thereto a modified form of my invention, one of the shuttersbeingshown open and. the other being shown in position to be opened. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken through the upper part of part of the win dow looking upwardly. Fig. (3 is an enlarged detail of the bolt actuating means. Fig. 7 is a vertical section through the upper part of the case showing the locking bolt. F S is a perspective view of the lower support for the window shutter opening rod. Fig. 9 is a horizontal section showing improved means jlior actuating the slats of a shutter. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view showing one corner of a shutter and the locking catch and channel member secured thereto.

window shutter actuating means formed of a tube having a suitable actuating handle, this tube being com'ieeted to a shutter by means of a sliding contact so that the shutter will be open when the tube moves in the proper direction. In order to lock the shntter in one position, there is provided a bolt which may be disposed to lock one or both of the shutters in ordinary window construction, this bolt being actuated by means of a rod located within the tube in the movement. The support for the tubular member may also be provided with inclined plane surface so as to automatically lock the shutter in extended position. The sliding contact whereby the shutter is opened, preferably comprises a rod upon which is slidably mounted a sleeve connected by suitable lever mechanism to the tube, although a roller and corresponding channel member may be used for this purpose. In the aecompanying description and drawings, both forms of the sliding contact are shown.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a tubular member extending vertically for Generally, this invention aims to provide a practically the full length of the window frame, the lower end of the tube bein r0- tatably mounted in a. support and having secured thereto or formed integral therewith a handle while the upper end of the tubular member 1 is guided in a guide member 1. llxtending from the upper end of the tubular member 1 is an arm 5, pivot-ally connected to a link 6, one end. or" which connects with short arm 7, of a lever 8 pivotally mounted in the top of the window frame. The lever S, and the link 6 are made of comparatively thin material and are designed to pass through slots formed in the window guides 9, formed in the usual form of window construction. The long arm 10 of the lever 3 has pivotally connected to the outer end thereof a sleeve 11, this sleeve 11 being adapted to slide back and forth upon a rod 12 rigidly mounted between braces 13, braces 13 being secured in any suitable manner to the upper part of the shutter frame and preferably, though not necessarily upon the upper surface of the shutter when the lower is in closed position.

Mounted within the tube 1 and adapted to move vertically therein is a lock actuating rod 14, the lower end of which is supported by the inwardly extending end 15 of a lever handle 16 pivotally mounted by means of lugs 11" to the handle 3. By means of the lever handle 16, it will be seen that when the same is depressed, the rod 1% will be raised so as to move in a. clockwise direction a bell crank 18, arm 19 of which has sliding contact with the rod 14. As shown in Fig. 6, the other arm 20 of the bell crank has pivotally connected thereto a rod 21, which is pivotally connected to an arm 22 secured in any manner to a pin 23.

As shown in Fig. 7, the rod of pin 23 has extending therefrom a trip arm 24, adapted to fit within the conic opening 25 of a lock bolt 26, it being understood that the particular showing herein is one of several expedients tor the purpose of raising the bolt 26 when the roe 23 is rotated. Thus it will be seen, that as the lever handle 16 is depressed, the rod 1 will be raised and the arm 22 rotated in a clockwise direction for the purpose of raising the bolt 26 by means of a trip arm 24- tothe dotted line position indicated in Fig. 7.

As shown in Fig. 1, there is provided upon each side of the window frame a tube 1, while there is provided only upon the right hand side the lock actuating rod 1%. It is understood, of course, that it the rod 14- were placed upon the opposite side of the window that the bell crank and arm would move counterclockwise when the rod moved upwardly. The bolt 26 may be positioned to engage a catch 27, extending from the up-' per edge of one of the shutters such as shown in Figs. 4: and '7, or the bolt 26 may be received in a slot or bolt hole 28 formed in the upper edge of one of the shutters, as shown in Fig. 1.

The lower support 2 in which is rotatably mounted the tube 1, is composed of a brace plate 29 which may be secured in any suit able manner to the casing of the window frame. Extending from the brace plate 29 is a boss 30, from which extends an inclined plane portion 31, the upper surface of which does not extend completely to the brace plate 29, but is cut away so as to form an opening 32 within which the pin 33 may fall when the handle 3 is thrown in a reversed position from that shown in Fig. 8. The pin 33 has extending upwardly therefrom arms 34 which carry a pintle 35 passing pivotally through the inwardly extending end 15 of the lever 16. By referring to Fig. 8, it will be seen that as the handle 3 is rotated to the position indicated in dotted lines, the pin 33 will ride upwardly upon the inclined surface 31, and thereby raise the end 15 to produce the corresponding upper movement of the rod 14, which will result in the opera tion already described. The end 15 is guided by the slot 36 formed in the lower end of the tubular member, while the sides of the U- shaped member formed by the arms 34 move within slots 37 formed on opposite sides of the handle 3. After the'pin 33 has passed beyond the end of the inclined surface 33, the weight of the rod 14 will force the same into the space 32, so that it will not be possible for the handle 3 to be moved until the lever 16 is depressed. It is to be understood, of course, that the support just described can be provided with a pair of inclined plane portions 31, this duplicity of inclined plane portions making it possible to lock the shutter in outer and inner positions by means or" the pin 33 extending into the space 32.

From the description given, it will be seen that when it is desired to open one of the shutters, it is necessary first to depress the handle lever 16 until the bolt 26 has been raised suiliciently to clear the catch 27, or to be entirely free from the bolt hole 23, after which the lever 3 is rotated in the desired direction, there being no necessity for keeping the lever handle 16 depressed after the blind has been started upon its outward swing. The outward swing of the shutter is accompanied by the rising of the pin 33 upon the inclined plane portion 31, and it is designed to have the pin 33 enter the opening 32 just atthe time when the shutter reaches the limit of its outer movement, the pin 33 serving to lock the shutter in this position as previously described. When it is desired to close the shutter, it will be necessary to again depress the handle 16 until the pin 33 is entirely removed from the opening 32, at which time the handle 3 is moved in a reverse direction from the movement. previously giv n it, the swing}; of the shutter being continued until the bolt 26, which is provided with a beveled portion 38, will be upcn the catch 27. It theupper edge oft the shutter be provided with a bolt hole, suitable springs may be employed to return the bolt to position upon the descent of the rod lt.

As shown in Fig. 10, a modified form of: sliding, contact may be used wherein the upper edge of the shutter is provided with a channel member 39, a lower edge of? which is suitably secured to the shutter, this lower edge having extending therefrom a flange ll-O, and a back til, the back ll being of greater height than the flange 41), thereby defining an opening; between the flange 40 and the (,tt'WGt 42 which extends from the back 41-1. it is preterable, though not necessary, to have the cover it extend slightly beyond the flange 4-0 so as to prevent ingress of raim snow, etc, from interfering with the action of the roller 13. in the modified frame, this roller 43' takes the place ot a sleeve 11, the roller being rotatably mounted upon the outer end of the long, arm 10 ot the lever S, and pressing against the back it when the tube 1 is turned to open the shutter.

in order to adjust the slats ot the shutter from within the room, there is rotatably mounted within one or both sides of the easing of the window frame. a rod 43 provided with a suitable handle it, and having a trip arm i5 adapted to enter an opening -t(' cut within a hinged end of the shutter 'frame. One of the slats has an elongated pivot 47, having extending at right angles theretroln a trip arm JLS, adapted to engage arm 4:5. \Vhen it is desired to move the slats, the handle at will be turned until the arm 1-?) has loosely en ea god trip arm il-8, when it will be merely necessary to turn the handle so that the arm it? will rotate the trip and open the slats, in view of the fact that the arm to is not secured in any way to the trip 48, but merely engages the same loosely. in order that all the slats may move in unison, there is provided a master-rod 4-9, as shown in Fig. 7, which moves all oi the slats when any one slat is moved, this construction being common in window blinds or shutters. lvhen it is desired to reverse the movement of the slats it will be necessary to withdraw the rod 43 until the arm it can be rotated in the opening 1th without engagement with the trip 48, this operation being made possible by so constructing the rod a that the same can slide longitudinally of the window trame. lVhen the arm to has been moved clear of the trip at), the rod at? is again pushed inuuirdly in the handle t-it rotated in a reversed direction, at which time the slats will be actuated.

In the preferred form 01' the invention as )resent a )leasin a )1 shown in Fig. 1, when it is desired to apply the invention to a window already constructed, it will be necessary simply to cut out a small portion in the upper part of the sash, but insomuch as this cut-out portion will be small and in a protecttal position, no disfigurmnent of the window will result, nor will it be possible for snow, rain, etc., to beat through the opening.

\Vhile the hinges ot the shutter have been shown as admitting of no vertical sliding movement when the shutter assumes its uppermost position, yet it is to be understood that the long end 10 of the lever 8 will be mad, sufiiciently flexible to allow the usual hinges used in shutter construction to be used in conjunction with the invention. By having the actuating rod Ill: incased within the tube 1, the actuating means are made to I airaucc and also at ttoi-d means for supporting such fixtures or attachments as are usually applied to windows, it being further noted that the operating parts are out of reach.

I claim:

1. A window shutter opening device comprising a tubular member adapted to open the shutter, a rod movably mounted within the tube, and a shutter lock operatively connected to the rod and adapted to unlock as the rod moves in a predetermined position.

2. A window shutter opening device comprising a tubular member adapted to open a shutter, a rod reciprocally mounted within the tubular member, means carried by the tubular member for reciprotaiting' the rod, and a shutter lock operatively connected to the rod and adapted to release the shutter when the rod moved in a predetermined position.

3. A. window shutter opening device comprising a tubular member adapted to open a shutter as the same rotates, a handle for rotating the tubular member, a rod reciprocall'y mounted within the tubular member, a rod actuating means forming part of? the handle and pivoted thereto, and a shutter releasing means operatively connected to and actuated by the rod.

1-. A window shutter opening device comprising a tubular member adapted to open the shutter, a rod reciprocally mounted within the tubular member, mains locking the shutter adapted to be actuated to release the window when the rod moves in a predetermined direction, and a rod actuating lever pivotally mounted with respect to the tubular member and having an arm extend ing' within the said tubular member and engaging one end of the rod.

The cmnbination in a shutter opening device, of a rod slidably mounted in lar member, the rod adapted to unlock the shutter and the tubular member adapted to open the shutter.

a tubu- 6. The combination in a shutter opening device, or" a tubular member adapted to open the shutter, a rod slidably mounted Within the tubular member, a pin moving with the rod, and a support carrying the tubular member provided With an opening positioned to receive the pin to-prevent the turn ing of the tubular member.

7. The combination in a shutter closing and opening device, of a tubular member adapted to open the shutter, means for lock ing the shutter in one position, a rod slidaibly mounted in the tube adapted to unlock the shutter from said position a lever pivotally mounted with respect to the tubular member, 21v pin depending from the lever, and

an inclined plane adapted to engage the pin, the plane terminating in a slot adapted to receive the pin to lock the shutter in a second position.

8. The combination in a shutter opening and closing device, of a tubular member, a rigid member slidably mounted Within the tubular member, one of said members adapted to unlock the shutter and the other member adapted to open the shutter.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE W. LANCASTER.

Witnesses:

M. L. BLACKBURN, WV. H. YVAKEFIELD.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

